U.S. patent number 7,984,118 [Application Number 11/011,935] was granted by the patent office on 2011-07-19 for persistent configuration in a multiple processor repairable system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to General Electric Company. Invention is credited to Fred Henry Boettner, Robert Kirby, Gary Kraterfield, Craig William Moyer, Mark E. Shepard, Stephen J. Sullivan.
United States Patent |
7,984,118 |
Boettner , et al. |
July 19, 2011 |
Persistent configuration in a multiple processor repairable
system
Abstract
A control system having a host computer and one or more control
computers connected to an interface for control of a process or
machinery. The control computers are capable of automatically
initiated network address assignment and configuration when powered
up after installation. The network address is based on a location
identifier situated in the interface that corresponds to a specific
connection thereof to the control computer. The control computer
reads the location identifier from the interface and requests a
network address. The host computer assigns the network address
based on the location identifier. Configuration of the control
computer then proceeds. The procedure applies to newly installed
control computers, whether first time installment or a replacement
for a failed control computer.
Inventors: |
Boettner; Fred Henry (Roanoke,
VA), Sullivan; Stephen J. (Roanoke, VA), Moyer; Craig
William (Roanoke, VA), Kraterfield; Gary (Roanoke,
VA), Kirby; Robert (Roanoke, VA), Shepard; Mark E.
(Roanoke, VA) |
Assignee: |
General Electric Company
(Schenectady, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
36585548 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/011,935 |
Filed: |
December 14, 2004 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20060129986 A1 |
Jun 15, 2006 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/220; 709/222;
709/221; 709/223; 370/254; 370/270; 370/228; 709/249; 370/384 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
9/44505 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
15/177 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;709/220-222 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Abdullahi; Salad
Assistant Examiner: Fan; Hua
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ohlandt, Greeley, Ruggiero &
Perle, L.L.P.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for configuring a first redundant control computer of a
plurality of redundant control computers of a control system for
controlling a process or one or more machines, said control system
further including a host computer, a plurality of redundant control
computers, an interface arranged to control said process or one or
more machines, a plurality of redundant connections between said
interface and said plurality of redundant control computers,
wherein signals for monitoring and or controlling said process or
one or more machines are transferred via said interface and said
redundant connections between said process or one or more machines
and said plurality of redundant control computers, each of said
redundant control computers including a processor, a memory and a
configurator which is stored in said memory, wherein one of said
plurality of redundant control computers is a replacement redundant
control computer that is electrically connected to a particular one
of said redundant connections which was previously electrically
connected to a failed redundant control computer, said method
comprising: obtaining a location identifier from said interface,
wherein said location identifier identifies said particular
redundant connection that is connected to said replacement
redundant control computer; providing said location identifier to
said host computer; and configuring said replacement redundant
control computer with configuration data provided by said host
computer, wherein said configuration data includes a network
address for said replacement redundant control computer that is
related to said location identifier and wherein a second redundant
control computer carries on said monitoring and controlling while
said failed redundant control computer is being replaced by said
replacement redundant control computer and said replacement
redundant control computer is being configured.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said obtaining step is
automatically performed in response to said replacement redundant
control computer being powered up.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said configuration data is
substantially identical to a configuration data of said failed
redundant control computer.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said replacement and second
redundant control computers communicate via a network selected from
the group consisting of: single link and two or more links.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining an
additional location identifier from said interface for at least one
additional redundant control computer of said plurality of
redundant control computers that is connected to said interface;
providing said additional location identifier to said additional
redundant control computer; and receiving additional configuration
data for said additional redundant control computer, wherein said
additional configuration data includes an additional network
address for said additional redundant control computer that is
related to said additional location identifier.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein said location identifier and said
additional location identifier are unique to said particular and
second redundant connections of said interface to which said
replacement redundant control computer and said additional
redundant control computer are connected, respectively.
7. A method for configuring a host computer that includes a
processor and a memory and that is part of a control system that
includes a plurality of redundant control computers, an interface
arranged to control said process or one or more machines, a
plurality of redundant connections between said interface and said
plurality of redundant control computers, wherein signals for
monitoring and or controlling said process or one or more machines
are transferred via said interface and said redundant connections
between said process or one or more machines and said plurality of
redundant control computers, wherein one of said plurality of
redundant control computers is a replacement redundant control
computer that is electrically connected to a particular one of said
redundant connections which was previously electrically connected
to a failed redundant control computer, said method comprising:
assigning a network address to replacement redundant control
computer based on a location identifier of said particular
redundant connection, wherein said particular redundant connection
is connected to said replacement redundant control computer; saving
a relationship of said location identifier with said network and a
configuration data; and providing said configuration data to said
replacement redundant control computer, wherein a second redundant
control computer of said plurality of redundant control computers
carries on said monitoring and controlling while said failed
redundant control computer is being replaced and said replacement
redundant control computer is being configured.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said configuration data is
substantially identical to a configuration data of said failed
redundant control computer.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein said host computer further
includes a communication unit that has the capability to
communicate with said replacement redundant control computer via a
network selected from the group consisting of: single link and two
or more links.
10. The method of claim 7, further comprising: assigning a second
network address to an additional redundant control computer of said
plurality of redundant control computers based on an additional
location identifier of a second redundant connection of said
plurality of redundant connections, wherein said second redundant
connection is connected to said additional control computer; saving
a relationship of said second location identifier with said network
and an additional configuration data; and providing said additional
configuration data to said additional redundant control
computer.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein said location identifier and
said additional location identifier are unique to said particular
and second redundant connections of said interface to which said
replacement redundant control computer and said additional
redundant control computer are connected, respectively.
12. A control system for controlling a process or one or more
machines, said control system comprising: a host computer; a
plurality of redundant control computers; an interface arranged to
control said process or one or more machines; a plurality of
redundant connections between said interface and said plurality of
redundant control computers, wherein signals for monitoring and or
controlling said process or one or more machines are transferred
via said interface and said redundant connections between said
process or one or more machines and said plurality of redundant
control computers; each of said redundant control computers
comprising a processor, a memory and a configurator which is stored
in said memory, wherein one of said plurality of redundant control
computers is a replacement redundant control computer that is
electrically connected to a particular one of said redundant
connections which was previously electrically connected to a failed
redundant control computer, wherein a second one of said redundant
control computers carries on said monitoring and controlling while
said failed redundant control computer is being replaced by said
replacement redundant control computer and said replacement
redundant control computer is being configured, and wherein the
processor of said replacement redundant control computer executes:
at least a first program instruction of said configurator to obtain
a location identifier from said interface; wherein said location
identifier identifies said particular redundant connection that is
connected to said replacement redundant control computer; at least
a second program instruction of said configurator to provide said
location identifier to said host computer; and at least a third
program instruction of said configurator to configure said
replacement redundant control computer with configuration data
provided by said host computer, wherein said configuration data
includes a network address for said replacement redundant control
computer that is related to said location identifier.
13. The control system of claim 12, wherein said processor
automatically obtains said location identifier in response to said
replacement redundant control computer being powered up.
14. The control system of claim 12, wherein said configuration data
is substantially identical to a configuration data of said failed
redundant computer.
15. The control system of claim 12, further comprising a
communications unit for communicating via a network selected from
the group consisting of: single link and two or more links.
16. A host computer for a control system that includes a plurality
of redundant control computers; an interface arranged to control
said process or one or more machines; a plurality of redundant
connections between said interface and said plurality of redundant
control computers, wherein signals for monitoring and or
controlling said process or one or more machines are transferred
via said interface and said redundant connections between said
process or one or more machines and said plurality of redundant
control computers, wherein one of said plurality of redundant
control computers is a replacement redundant control computer that
is electrically connected to a particular one of said redundant
connections which was previously electrically connected to a failed
redundant control computer, said host computer comprising: a
processor, a memory and a configurator which is stored in said
memory, wherein said processor executes: at least a first program
instruction of said configurator to assign a network address to
said replacement redundant control computer based on a location
identifier that is based on said particular redundant connection to
said interface; at least a second program instruction of said
configurator to save a relationship of said location identifier
with said network and a configuration data; and at least a third
program instruction of said configurator to provide said
configuration data to said replacement redundant control computer,
wherein a second one of said redundant control computers carries on
said monitoring and controlling while said failed redundant control
computer is being replaced by said replacement redundant computer
and while said replacement redundant computer is being
configured.
17. The host computer of claim 16, wherein said configuration data
is substantially identical to a configuration data of said failed
redundant control computer.
18. The host computer of claim 16, further comprising a
communication unit that has the capability to communicate with said
redundant control computers via a network selected from the group
consisting of: single link and two or more links.
19. The host computer of claim 16, wherein said processor further
executes: at least a fourth program instruction to assign a second
network address to a second one of said plurality of redundant
control computers based on a second location identifier of a second
one of said plurality of redundant connections of said second
redundant control computer to said interface; at least a fourth
program instruction to save a relationship of said second location
identifier with said network and an additional configuration data;
and at least a fifth program instruction to provide said additional
configuration data to said second redundant control computer.
20. The host computer of claim 19, wherein said location identifier
and said second location identifier are unique to said particular
and second redundant connections of said interface to which said
replacement redundant control computer and said second redundant
control computer are connected, respectively.
21. A memory media for at least a first redundant control computer
of a plurality of redundant control computers connected in a
control system that includes a host computer, an interface arranged
to control a process or one or more machines, a plurality of
redundant connections between said interface and said plurality of
redundant control computers, wherein signals for monitoring and or
controlling said process or one or more machines are transferred
via said interface and said redundant connections between said
process or one or more machines and said plurality of redundant
control computers, each of said redundant control computers
including a processor and a memory, wherein one of said plurality
of redundant control computers is a replacement redundant control
computer that is electrically connected to a particular one of said
redundant connections which was previously electrically connected
to a failed redundant control computer, said memory media
comprising: at least a first program instruction that said
processor of said replacement redundant control computer executes
to obtain a location identifier from said interface, wherein said
location identifier identifies said particular redundant connection
that is connected to said replacement redundant control computer;
at least a second program instruction that said processor of said
replacement redundant control computer executes to provide said
location identifier to said host computer; and at least a third
program instruction that said processor of said replacement
redundant control computer executes to configure said replacement
redundant control computer with configuration data provided by said
host computer, wherein said configuration data includes a network
address for said replacement redundant control computer that is
related to said location identifier, wherein a second redundant
control computer carries on said monitoring and controlling while
said failed redundant control computer is being replaced by said
replacement redundant control computer and said replacement
redundant control computer is being configured.
22. A memory media for a host computer connected in a control
system that includes a plurality of redundant control computers; an
interface arranged to control said process or one or more machines;
a plurality of redundant connections between said interface and
said plurality of redundant control computers, and said host
computer, which comprises a processor and a memory, wherein signals
for monitoring and or controlling said process or one or more
machines are transferred via said interface and said redundant
connections between said process or one or more machines and said
plurality of redundant control computers, wherein one of said
plurality of redundant control computers is a replacement redundant
control computer that is electrically connected to a particular one
of said redundant connections which was previously electrically
connected to a failed redundant control computer, said memory media
comprising: at least a first program instruction that said
processor executes to assign a network address to said replacement
redundant control computer based on a location identifier of said
particular redundant connection of said replacement redundant
control computer to said interface; at least a second program
instruction that said processor executes to save a relationship of
said location identifier with said network and a configuration
data; and at least a third program instruction that said processor
executes to provide said configuration data to said replacement
redundant control computer, wherein a second redundant control
computer of said plurality of redundant control computers carries
on said monitoring and controlling while said failed redundant
control computer is being replaced and said replacement redundant
control computer is being configured.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to processing systems. More
particularly, the present disclosure relates to multiple computers
of a control system that acquire signals from and/or supply signals
to a machine or a process being monitored or controlled and to
methods for configuring the computers.
2. Discussion of the Background Art
Repair of a multiple processor system typically includes steps for
the physical replacement of a failed processor and subsequent
re-establishment of required configuration information. The
configuration information typically provides customization of the
software running on each processor. Human interaction typically is
needed to determine the correct configuration information to load
into the system. The human interaction may be through a hardware
jumper selection, the operation of a configuration program, or
other methods. In any of these methods, the re-establishment of the
configuration information may impede the repair process. For
example, the system may be shut down or be unusable while a
replacement processor is being substituted for the failed
processor. Thus, a problem to be solved is how to re-establish the
correct configuration information in the replacement processor.
Accordingly, there is a continuing desire for a multiple processor
system in which a processor can be configured without the need for
human intervention.
Also, there is a desire for continued operation of a multiple
processor system during the time that a failed processor is being
removed and a replacement processor is being installed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The disclosure describes a technical solution to the problem of how
to re-establish the correct configuration in a replacement
computer. The technical solution is an arrangement by which the
configuration data, once initially established, is saved based on a
relationship of a connecting location of a failed computer to an
interface. A replacement computer reads a unique identifier
associated with the location, which is used to access the
configuration data. This solution results in an automated
configuration process for the replacement computer and eliminates
the possibility of a system failure due to improper configuration
of a replacement computer.
A first method embodiment configures a first computer by obtaining
a location identifier from an interface that is connected to the
first computer. The location identifier is provided to a second
computer. The first computer is configured with configuration data
provided by the second computer, the configuration data including a
network address for the first computer that is related to the
location identifier.
A second method embodiment configures a control computer, by
assigning a network address to the control computer based on a
location identifier of a connection of the control computer to an
interface with a controlled and/or monitored process or machinery.
A relationship of the location identifier with the network and a
configuration data is saved. The configuration data is provided to
the control computer.
A control computer embodiment is for a control system that includes
a host computer and an interface arranged to control a process or
one or more machines. The control computer embodiment includes at
least a first program instruction that causes a processor of the
control computer to obtain a location identifier from the
interface. At least a second program instruction causes the
processor to provide the location identifier to the host computer.
At least a third program instruction causes the processor to
configures the control computer with configuration data provided by
the host computer, wherein the configuration data includes a
network address for the control computer that is related to the
location identifier.
A host computer embodiment is for a control system that includes a
control computer and an interface arranged to control a process or
one or more machines. The host computer embodiment includes at
least a first program instruction that causes the processor to
assign a network address to the control computer based on a
location identifier of a connection of the control computer to the
interface. At least a second program instruction causes the
processor to save a relationship of the location identifier with
the network and a configuration data. At least a third program
instruction causes the processor to provides the configuration data
to the control computer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a
multi-computer control system;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an alternative network between a
control computer and the host computer of the control system of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control computer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the configurator of the control
computer of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the host computer of the control
system of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of the configurator of the host computer
of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, a control
system is illustrated by way of reference numeral 20. Control
system 20 includes a host computer 22 and one or more channels 24
and 26 that are arranged to monitor and/or control a process or one
or more machines 28. Although only two channels are shown, it will
be apparent to those skilled in the art that more channels can be
used. As each of the channels 24 and 26 are substantially
identical, only channel 24 will be described in detail.
Channel 24 includes an interface 30, control computers 32, 34 and
36 and communication links 38, 40 and 42. Interface 30 includes one
or more connections to process or machine 28 and redundant
connections to control computers 32, 34 and 36. For example, the
signals being monitored by interface 30 are transferred via three
paths in FIG. 1. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art
that more or less paths may be used. Interface 30, for example, may
be a terminal board that accepts wiring from process or machine 28
and electrically connects to one or more control computers 32, 34
or 36.
Interface 30 includes a unique electronic identifier (ID) 44 for
the connection to control computer 32, a unique electronic
identifier (ID) 46 for the connection to control computer 36 and a
unique electronic identifier (ID) 48 for the connection to control
computer 38. Electronic IDs 44, 46 and 48 may be provided simply by
coded wiring, a memory (e.g., a ROM, an EPROM) and the like.
Signals acquired by interface 30 are conveyed to control computers
32, 34 and 36, which condition the signals and process them for
transfer to host computer 22. For example, each of the control
computers 32, 34 and 36 may include an analog to digital converter
that converts analog signals to digital form for processing and
transfer to host computer 22.
Communication links 38, 40 and 42 provide independent signal paths
between host computer 22 and each of the control computers 32, 34
and 36. For example, communication links 38, 40 and 42 may be
implemented in an Ethernet topology and protocol, although other
topologies and protocols may be used.
Referring to FIG. 2, redundant communication links may also be
used. Thus, control computer 32 may be provided with communication
link 38 and an independent communication link 50 for redundancy
purposes. Control computers 34 and 36 may be provided with similar
redundant communication links.
Control computers 32, 34 and 38 may be any suitable computing
devices. For example, the computing device may be implemented as a
single special purpose integrated circuit, such as an ASIC, having
a main or central processor section for overall, system-level
control, and separate sections dedicated performing various
different specific combinations, functions and other processes
under control of the central processor section. It will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that the computing device
can also be implemented using a variety of separate dedicated or
programmable integrated or other electronic circuits or devices,
such as hardwired electronic or logic circuits including discrete
element circuits or programmable logic devices, such as PLDs, PALs,
PLAs or the like. Also, the computing device can also be
implemented using a suitably programmed general-purpose computer,
such as a microprocessor or microcontrol, or other processor
device, such as a CPU or MPU, either alone or in conjunction with
one or more peripheral data and signal processing devices. In
general, any device or similar devices on which a finite state
machine capable of implementing the flow charts, as illustrated in
the application, can be used as the control.
Referring to FIG. 3, an exemplary control computer 32 includes a
processor 52, an input/output (I/O) units 54, a communication
module 56 and a memory 58 that are all interconnected by a bus 55.
I/O units 54 include the aforementioned analog to digital converter
and other signal shaping circuits to condition signals supplied by
interface 30 for use by control computer 32 and to condition
signals to be supplied from control computer 32 to interface
30.
Communication module 56 includes the circuit topology and protocol
necessary to communicate via communication link 38 and/or
communication link 50, if used. Memory 58 includes any suitable
type of memory, such as random access memory, read only memory,
flash memory, and other types of memory.
Control computer 32 also includes an operating system 60, a
configurator 62 and a configuration tool 64 that are stored in
memory 58. Operating system 60 causes processor 52 to execute
configurator 62 to communicate with host computer 22 to obtain a
network address and to be configured with the use of configuration
tool 64. Configuration tool 64 may be any suitable configuration
tool, known presently or in the future. Configurator 62, as well as
other programs, may be stored on a memory media 66 that can be used
to load configurator 62 into memory 58.
Referring to FIG. 4, configurator 62 begins at step 70 upon control
computer 32 being powered up. At step 72, it is determined whether
control computer is newly installed, as would be the case at the
time of initial installation or replacement installation. If not
newly installed, configurator 62 is exited. If newly installed,
step 74 reads unique electronic ID 44 from interface 30. At step
76, a request is issued to host computer 22 for assignment of a
network address. The request includes unique electronic ID 44. At
step 78, the assigned network address is received from host
computer 22. At step 80, configuration tool 64 is caused to
configure control computer 32 with configuration data that is
received from host computer 22 and that is unique to the control
computer connected to the connections of interface 30 that are
associated with electronic ID 44. When the configuration is
completed, configurator 62 is exited. The configuration data, for
example, may include network address, signal scaling and operating
rate. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the
sequence order of the steps of configurator 62 can be changed
without altering the scope of the disclosure. For example, step 72
can be performed at any point in the sequence order prior to step
80. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that
configurator 62 includes one or more program instructions for each
step 72, 74, 76, 78 and 80.
Referring to FIG. 5, an exemplary host computer includes a
processor 102, an input/output (I/O) units 104, a communication
module 106 and a memory 108 that are all interconnected by a bus
105. I/O units 104 include, for example, a keyboard, mouse, display
and printer. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
host computer 22 may be one of several host computers configured to
control and monitor process or machine 28 via channels 24 and
26.
Communication module 106 includes the circuit topology and protocol
necessary to communicate via communication link 38 and/or
communication link 50, if used. Memory 108 includes any suitable
type of memory, such as random access memory, read only memory,
flash memory, and other types of memory.
Host computer 22 also includes an operating system 110, a
configurator 112 and a configuration tool 114 that are stored in
memory 108. Operating system 110 causes processor 102 to execute
configurator 112 to communicate with host processor 22 to obtain a
network address and to be configured with the use of configuration
tool 114. Configuration tool 114 may be any suitable configuration
tool, known presently or in the future. Configurator 112, as well
as other programs, may be stored on a memory media 116 that can be
used to load configurator 112 into memory 108. Configurator 62
could also be stored in memory media 116, loaded into memory 108
and then downloaded into memory 58 of control computers 32, 34 and
36.
Referring to FIG. 6, configurator 112 at step 120 receives a
request from control computer 32 for a network address. The network
address is assigned at step 122 and the relationship between the
electronic ID of the requestor, the network address and the
configuration data is stored. At step 124, the network address is
sent to the requestor.
At step 126 the configuration tool 114 is used to download to
control computer 32 configuration data that is unique to the
electronic ID of the requestor. It will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that configurator 112 includes one or more
program instructions for each step 120, 122, 124 and 126.
It should also be noted that the terms "first", "second", "third",
"upper", "lower", and the like may be used herein to modify various
elements. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or
hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically
stated.
While the present invention has been described with reference to
one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents
may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the
scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may
be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the
teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope
thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not
be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best
mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the
invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of
the appended claims.
* * * * *